Storming last quarter ends Mayo Gaels' 23-year wait

Mayo Gaels ended a 23-year wait to regain the Egan Jewellers Mayo intermediate football championship title when they pipped Ballyhaunis in this year's decider, which was played in the Fr. O’Hara Memorial Park, Charlestown, this afternoon, writes Aiden Henry.

In what was a rip-roaring and highly exciting final, Mayo Gaels had to come from behind before seeing off a very determined challenge from Ballyhaunis, winning by 1-11 to 1-9.

Indeed, it looked for long periods in this game that it would be the east Mayo side who would emerge victorious. However, James Fallon’s charges never panicked and when the game was there to be won and lost in the final quarter, the Gaels came up with all the answers.

In the build-up to this final, the general feeling was that it was going to be a very close affair, with the final result in the balance right up to the final whistle. This is exactly how it turned out.

In the opening half, wind-assisted Ballyhaunis played all the good football. They dominated in most areas of the field and by the end of the half were fully deserving of their four-point lead, 0-8 to 1-1.

After getting off to a great start in which they opened up with three unanswered points, Ballyhaunis were floored by a great Mayo Gaels goal in the ninth minute. It came after a great shot by Liam Hughes came back off the post and team captain Kevin Lynch was first to react to the rebound, planting the ball in the back of the net.

The goal was followed up by an Ethan Henry pointed free, meaning Mayo Gaels were level with Ballyhaunis at the first water break despite playing second fiddle to their opponents for most of the opening quarter.

However, Mayo Gaels failed to score in the second quarter and as a result, by half-time they found themselves trailing by 1-1- to 0-8 after Ballyhaunis added four more points to their tally.

Mayo Gaels came a lot more into the game on the resumption and began to eat into the Ballyhaunis lead. By the 41st minute, after scoring three unanswered points, they had cut the deficit to the minimum. However, a brilliant goal from Ballyhaunis wing-back James Lyons three minutes later meant the east Mayo side had restored a four-point advantage.

In the final quarter Mayo Gaels showed their true worth, taking over in every department of the field and landing some truly magnificent points, especially from play. Indeed, they outscored their opponents by seven points to one in this final quarter (six from play) to turn the four-point deficit into a two-point victory.

It was just a brilliant last quarter by Mayo Gaels for which Ballyhaunis had no answer. In the end it was Mayo Gaels' never-say-die attitude that got them over the line for a famous victory.

*See Tuesday's print edition for a detailed report on the game